If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Incredibly Belated Weekly Minor League Roundup #12 (6/24-6/30)

So this BA rundown of the best and worst minor league offenses reveals that the Dayton Dragons have drawn the fewest walks of any team in organized full-season minor-league baseball. Fourth worst are the Lynchburg Hillcats and tenth worst the Louisville Bats. The Carolina Mudcats? 80th of 120 teams.

6/27: Norfolk grabs a 2-1 lead in the series with an 8-3 decision. Rough start for Chad Reineke (L4-6, 3.23, 5 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 1 HR). Frazier did homer again (#11) and both Dorn and RF Mike Griffin were 2-for-4 (.301 and .319, respectively). Matthews rebounded from a terrible first game by lashing three hits and scoring a run.

6/29: Edinson Volquez made his second AAA rehab start- and it went well (6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 90 pitches/55 strikes). Rick Sweet then had the luxury of turning to Aroldis Chapman in a 3-2 game, but Chapman struggled badly with his control (BS #1, L 5-6, 4.35, 1.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 2 WP, 2 HB). Durham (TB) got a run in the seventh and four more in the eighth to grab a lead they’d never reliquinish. They win it, 7-5. Cozart was 3-for-4 with homer #10 and two runs scored (.256) and Balentien, Francisco, and Dorn each had a pair of hits.

6/30: The Bats fall again to the Bulls, 5-4 in ten innings. Jared Burton, who’d done well his previous few outings, walked in the winning run with the bases loaded (L 1-2, 4.08, 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K). Durham had previously tied the score in the eighth at the expense of Del Rosario (3.31, 2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K) before Fisher buzzsawed the bad guys in the ninth (2.05, 1 IP, 2 K). 1B Yonder Alonso seems to finally be heating up- he had three singles in five trips (.238) to end a brutal June (.226/.256/.322) with seven hits over four games. Francisco slammed homer #5 off Bulls starter Jeremy Hellickson and Matthews kept it going with a single and triple in five at-bats (.346).

Transactions and notes: 6/24: C Ryan Hanigan activated for rehab purposes. 6/25: OF Gary Matthews Jr. signed and activated. OF Danny Dorn activated from the DL. 6/26: OF Chris Burke released. 6/27: LHR Bill Bray called up by Cincinnati. 6/28: RHS Sam Lecure sent down from Cincinnati. 6/30: LHR Danny Ray Herrera sent down from Cincinnati. LHS Travis Wood called up by the Reds.

Atlanta signed OF Josh Anderson, let go by the Reds in spring training. Boston added RHR Robert Manuel to its 40-man and recalled him from Pawtucket. He got sent back a few days later, of course. Oakland released LHP Jesus Sanchez and DL’d RHR Marcus McBeth. Philadelphia bought the contract of C Dane Sardinha, then watched him slug a pair of homers a week into his “cover for the injured Carlos Ruiz” stint. They also released RHS Josh Fogg. Toronto designated 3B Edwin Encarnacion for assignment, then outrighted him to AAA (!!!). Colorado released LHP Damian Moss. Minnesota dug up INF D’Angelo Jimenez out of the Mexican League. They also outrighted INF Brendan Harris to AAA. Texas released 1B Wes Bankston.

AA Carolina Mudcats

Record this week: 4-3.

Overall: 4-5 (second half).

6/24: Scott Carroll fired a complete-game six-hitter, but lost to Tennessee 2-1 on a pair of solo homers. Carroll is now 1-3 with a 2.22 ERA (8 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 92 pitches/57 strikes). 2B Eric Eymann singled in CF Dave Sappelt for the only Mudcat run in the first.

6/25: Carolina was apparently saving its offensive outburst for this contest, unleashing an 11-run assault spread over six different innings. The Smokies did get three off Brad Boxberger in his Southern League debut in the eighth, but by then the game was largely over. Final score was 11-4. Tom Cochran worked five for the win (W 4-3, 2.53, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR). SS Kris Negron drove in four runs with a solo homer (#6) and double (.237, steal #22). Sappelt was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, homer #4, a triple, and three RBI (.333).

6/26: Carolina scored two in the third and three in the fourth to grab a 6-3 lead, but the Smokies rallied for four over their final three at-bats off the Mudcat bullpen to steal a 7-6 win. Jerry Gil took the loss (L 3-3, 5.15, BS #3, 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 HR). Jeremy Horst also struggled (3.09, 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K). Starter Matt Fairel worked five (6.83, 3 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 91 pitches/53 strikes). He did slam a two-run homer, which was impressive. Sappelt drove in three more with a two-run blast (#5) and RBI single (.337). C Devin Mesoraco doubled and scored a run in three trips, but was ejected (along with Mudcat manager David Bell) in the seventh for arguing balls and strikes with the home plate umpire.

6/27: Ace Matt Klinker played stopper in a 10-3 win as the Mudcats managed two of five. Klinker allowed just four hits over seven (W 5-4, 1.75, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 99 pitches/68 strikes). Mesoraco was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a double (.269) and LF Sean Henry added three hits and two RBI (.306). Sappelt was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two walks (.340). 3B Mike Costanzo hit a solo homer, #5.

6/28: Back home in Zebulon to face the Jacksonville Suns (FLA), but they put the screws to the struggling Travis Webb (L 2-6, 6.05, 5 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 84 pitches/55 strikes) and took game one 8-3. Boxberger walked three and allowed a run in the sixth without permitting a hit. C Brandon Yarbrough hit a solo homer (#3) and Costanzo (.256) and RF Denis Phipps (.236) each had two hits.

6/29: A three-run rally in the bottom of the eighth erased a 3-1 deficit and gave Carolina the 4-3 lead! On came the conflagratory Jerry Gil for the ninth. He walked the first man he faced, but quickly got two forceouts and a strikeout to notch save #2 (5.02) and close out the win. Lee Tabor had pitched a 1-2-3 eighth for the win (W 2-0, 3.38). Carroll lasted just five innings this time, but struck out six and cut his ERA to 2.17 (4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 89 pitches/54 strikes). Costanzo went 3-for-4 with a run scored and RBI (.271). A Henry RBI double and sacrifice flies from Mesoraco and Eymann got the crucial runs.

6/27: Myrtle Beach (ATL) wins a 11-8 slugfest, scoring six in the final three innings. Lance Janke started and lost (L 3-5, 6.00, 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K). Both Watson and Bowman struggled badly with control- each walked three in an inning-plus. Fellhauer hit a solo homer in the ninth (#5). Perez lashed a pair of doubles, scored one, stole one (third, no less) and drove one in. Day went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored (.240).

6/28: The Pelicans scored three in the top of the seventh to pull within one of Lynchburg, but Donnie Joseph came on to strand a man at third in the eighth and then work out of a two-on, nobody-out jam in the ninth to earn save #6 (1.13, 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 K)- a 9-8 victory. Curt Partch struggled badly, but managed six innings (W 3-5, 4.11, 10 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HR). Soto hit a sixth-inning grand slam (#10, .261, 2 R) and 2B Cody Puckett (#10) and Greene (#10 added solo shots. Day continued his recent torrid streak by going 3-for-3 with a walk, stolen base, and RBI (.253). C Kevin Coddington was 3-for-4 (.290, RBI).

6/25: Dayton scored two in the top of the 11th to take a 6-4 lead over Lansing (TOR), but the Lugnuts got three in the bottom of the frame off the freshly-converted reliever Pedro Villareal (BS #1, L 3-5, 3.44, 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K). A throwing error by 3B Frank Pfister contributed as well. Starter Tim Crabbe walked six but permitted just one hit over five shutout innings (1.25, 6 K). The rest of the bullpen struggled for the most part as well (Blair Carson 2 IP 3 H 2 ER, Jason Braun 1.2 IP 1 H 2 ER) despite nine total strikeouts. Dayton also outhit Lansing twelve to nine- but left men in scoring position in five separate innings. C Mark Fleury, who has struggled in his whole pro career so far with building consistency at the plate, hit a two-run homer (#5, .206). 1B Chris Richburg connected for #9 (.260). LF Cam Satterwhite lashed three doubles, drove in one and scored a pair (.379). CF Ryan LaMarre was 2-for-4 with a walk, RBI, and steal #4 (.278).

6/28: Dayton gets its first win of the second half, outslugging Fort Wayne 15-10. The Dragons erased a 4-0 deficit with eight runs in the fourth, then piled on four in the sixth and three more in the seventh. Justin Walker started and won (2-8, 5.08, 6 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HR). Junior Martinez couldn’t get a man out (5.34, 1 H, 2 ER, 2 BB) but Villareal came on to get the long save (#1, 3.54, 3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR). Rodriguez led the 17-hit attack with a 4-for-5 game (.284, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R). DH Tommy Nurre was 3-for-5 with two RBI (.237) and Satterwhite (#4) and Pfister (#4) each homered. LF Alex Oliveras doubled twice and scored three runs (.243) and LaMarre also crossed the plate three times despite recording only two official at-bats (1-for-2, 2 RBI, 2 BB, .289).

6/30: Fort Wayne takes the rubber match, 6-5. The Dragons got two in the bottom of the ninth when C Chase Weems singled with the bases loaded, but Nurre struck out, SS Didi Gregorius was walked intentionally and LaMarre lined out. Crabbe started and lost (L 1-1, 2.70, 5 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 3 K). Kevin Arico’s first pro inning went 1-2-3 and Junior Martinez turned in a scoreless seventh, although Jason Braun gave up a run in the top of the ninth that would prove crucial (3.27, 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K). Nurre did hit his third homer and Garton was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a triple (.281). Satterwhite’s hitting streak ended.

6/24: Starter Clayton Shunick was stuck with a four-spot in the top of the first (some of those unearned due to SS Devin Lohman’s error) and Great Falls never looked back, winning it 6-3. Shunick ended with a decent line (L 0-1, 6 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K). Tyler Cline finished with three scoreless; the 20-year-old is coming off sixty innings of 2.09 ERA ball in the complex leagues in 2009. CF Yorman Rodriguez blasted a double and triple and collected all three Mustangs RBIs (.263). LF Dayne Read was 2-for-4 and scored on each of Rodriguez’ hits.

6/25: Billings fell juuuuust short against Missoula (ARI) getting a single run in the eighth to close the gap to one at 9-8, but stranded a man on third in the eighth and another runner in the ninth. Rodriguez -playing RF this time- and fellow multimillionaire phenom Juan Duran both slammed home runs. Rodriguez finished 2-for-5 with three RBI total. 3B Oliver Santos was 4-for-5 with two runs scored, a RBI, and a double (.538). Starter Tanner Robles struggled (2.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER) and so did relievers Pat Doyle (3.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER) and Blaine Howell (1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, L 0-1).

6/26: Another heartbreakin’ slugfest. Down 10-0 going to the seventh, the Mustangs stampeded for two in the seventh, two in the eighth, and five in the ninth! But after 1B Jonathan Kaskow’s three-run homer cleared the bases in that final frame, the next two men were retired to end the game. Kaskow finished an incredible night at the plate 4-for-4 with three runs scored, two doubles, and a walk. Rodriguez was 4-for-5 with two runs scored (.379, RBI). Daniel Tuttle, who like Cline pitched very well in the complex leagues last year (1.67 ERA, 32.1 IP) started and lost (L 1-1, 5.00, 4 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K). Rehabbin’ Daniel Guerrero had a rough one (1 IP, 5 ER) although Jesus Adames permitted just one hit over the final three innings.

6/27: Billings salvaged one from this three-game road series, 6-2. Tzu-Kai Chiu threw 2.2 innings of scoreless relief for the victory (W 1-0, 0.00, 2 H, 1 K). Daniel Corcino, who pitched exclusively in relief for Billings in 2009 (4.91 ERA in 20 G, 30 K and 15 BB in 25.2 IP), started and worked 4.1 (7 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K). Porfirio Martinez got the save with the final two innings. Rodriguez continued to hit like crazy, going 3-for-4 with three more RBI (.424, 14-for-33). CF Jefry Sierra also had three hits (.429, steal #4). 2B Billy Hamilton was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored (.160).

6/28: Helena (MIL) scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth off Cline (L 0-1, 2.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER) and James Walczak (BS #1, 0.2 IP, 2 ER), then withstood a two-run comeback by Billings in the top of the ninth to hang on, 8-7. A Juan Duran forceout grounder and wild pitch/throwing error combination on 1B Donald Lutz’ strikeout scored runs #6 and #7, but Santos grounded out with Sierra on third to end the game. Lutz did go 3-for-5 with a double (.321). Hamilton was again 2-for-4, this time with a double, run scored, stolen base, and RBI (.207).

6/29: The Brewers also took game two, 5-3. Shunick started and went four (4.50, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) but it was Daniel Wolford who got the loss in relief (L 0-2, 2 IP, 2 ER, 1 HR). DH Trey Manz homered, his first. Lohman, struggling in the field early on, did go 2-for-3 to raise his average to .292.

6/30: The Mustangs salvage one for the second straight series, nipping Helena 4-3. Billings got 14 hits, but also stranded ten runners. Lutz hit a three-run homer in the seventh to provide the decisive runs (#3, 2-for-5, .333). Hamilton went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a walk (.242, steal #2, also CS #2). Kaskow was 3-for-3 with a walk (.348). Robles did a little better this time out (4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K) although it was Doyle who got the victory in relief (W 1-0, 4.26, 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K). Martinez got save #2 with two more scoreless innings.

Transactions and notes: 2B Mauricio Pimentel, UT Will Stramp, and OF Ryan Doran were all placed on the restricted list- indicating probable retirement. 6/28: RHR Daniel Guerrero sent to Lynchburg. INF Drew Hayes activated. (I believe he may be a NDFA signee- see below).

Great story to go with the only Reds’ NDFA signee to date (that's been publicized), OF Jeff Taylor Jr. out of Lynchburg College (VA).

Rookie-Arizona League Reds

Record this week: 3-2.

Overall record: 4-4.

6/24: The Reds evened their season record at 2 by beating the Indians in the first pitcher’s duel they’d seen so far, 4-1. Just three hits for the good guys. 19-year-old Dominican righty Jonathan Correa worked five strong for the win (4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K). His countryman Jose Marizan worked the sixth, 2009 NDFA righty Ryan Smith the next two, and Canadian lefty Mitchell Clarke (19th round, 2009) the ninth for the save. 2010 draftee Adam Muenster drove in two runs.

6/25: Off.

6/26: Led by Rehabbin’ Daryl Thompson’s nine Ks in five innings (6 H, 3 ER), the Reds whipped the Athletics, 8-3. Dominican Carlos Contreras worked the last four for the long save. SS Junior Arias was 4-for-5 with four runs scored, two stolen bases, a two-run homer off phenom Michael Ynoa (in his second US appearance) and a triple. DH Robert Maddox added three RBI and RF Stephen Hunt two more.

6/27: Three straight wins, as the Reds pile up six runs in the bottom of the first- then hang on to beat the Padres, 8-5. Starter Evan Hildenbrandt worked four (5.68, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K). Lefty Matthew Leonard worked 2.1 innings of scoreless relief for the victory and Smith picked up the save. DH Dominic D’Anna was 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI. Arias had two more hits and two more runs scored (.379). Hunt was 2-for-4 with a run scored and RBI (.500).

6/29: The Royals take a close one, 6-4. Lefty Derrick Lowery (24th round, 2009) struggled, giving up four earned in two innings of relief to earn the defeat. Correa had another solid start (4 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K). 2010 49th-round pick El’Hajj Muhammad worked two scoreless and the Taiwanese righty Po-Cheng Chi was much better in his second US outing (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R). Hernandez was 2-for-4 again, this time with three RBI. Maddox and CF Kurtis Muller were each 2-for-4 (.320 and .242, respectively). Arias committed his fifth error and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and a walk (.297).

Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.

Thank you, and most
importantly, enjoy yourselves!

RedsZone.com is a privately owned website and is not affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds or Major League Baseball